Chebera Churchura National Park

Chebera Churchura National Park is a remote wildlife park in southwestern Ethiopia, sitting within the Omo Gibe basin approximately 483 km southwest of Addis Ababa, covering 1,250 square kilometres at elevations between 500 and 2,000 metres above sea level. The park is renowned for its African elephant population and is considered one of Ethiopia’s most important elephant habitats, hosting a healthy and stable population. Alongside elephants, the park shelters lions, leopards, servals, greater kudus, colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, hippos, defassa waterbucks, warthogs, and Cape buffalo, plus 237 recorded bird species, five of which are endemic to Ethiopia. The park was upgraded from the Kulo-Konta controlled hunting area to a national park in 2005, and now represents one of the least visited yet most wildlife-rich parks on the continent.

Chebera Churchura National Park Quick Facts 2026

Activities Overview at Chebera Churchura National Park

African Elephant Tracking in Chebera Churchura

The park’s main attraction is its high elephant population, which has increased in recent years, numbering somewhere between 400 and 700 individuals across the wider region. The park is one of the last elephant strongholds in Ethiopia, and there are no viable roads, so you go out with an armed ranger on foot. Tracking happens primarily in the Meka and Erka forest zones, where dense bamboo and riverine forest create natural corridors used by herds at dawn and dusk. Seeing elephants come down to river edges at dawn or dusk is the park’s main draw for wildlife lovers. Sightings are never guaranteed in such thick vegetation, but rangers are experienced trackers, and even a brief glimpse of these animals in genuinely wild forest is a rare experience. Always expect a minimum two-hour walk each way from the park headquarters.

Game Drives and Wildlife Viewing in Chebera Churchura

After breakfast, game driving in this recently discovered park features numerous rivers, streams, and four small crater lakes that support diverse wildlife, with the park’s unique topography including hilly terrain, rolling plains, and incised valleys, home to larger mammals such as African elephants, hippos, Cape buffalo, lions, and leopards, along with various bird species like Trogon and Turacos. Much of the habitat consists of wooded grassland and dense riparian forest, but there are also areas of cloud forest and savannah; the dense vegetation can make sightings challenging, but the park can be explored via a small network of roads, and there are also watchtowers overlooking wetlands and forest clearings where animals gather in numbers. Game drives to the Shoshuma and Halala Kela areas cover the park’s more open sections and give the best chance of seeing buffalo and waterbuck in numbers. A 4WD vehicle is non-negotiable given the terrain.

Lake Bulo Hippo Walk and Buffalo Viewing

Trekking toward Lake Bulo with local guides and scouts gives visitors a chance to watch African elephants, hippopotamuses, Cape buffalo, and if lucky, even lions and leopards. Maximum trek time to reach Lake Bulo is four hours one way. The lake sits in a lower section of the park fed by the Zigina River, which drains south into the Omo River system. Hippos are reliably present at the lake year-round, spending the daylight hours submerged and emerging at dusk to graze the surrounding grass. Buffalo herds also congregate at the lake’s edge, particularly in the dry season when other water sources diminish. Rangers accompany all walking groups for safety, and the trek passes through several vegetation types, making it a worthwhile experience even if large mammal sightings are limited.

Birdwatching in Chebera Churchura National Park

Birding in Chebera Churchura is rewarding across habitats, from the highland montane forest to the lowland riverine strips and open wetlands. There are 237 species of birds in the park, among which white-winged cliff chat, banded barbet, wattled ibis, Ethiopian oriole, and thick-billed raven are endemic to Ethiopia. The park is home to over 200 bird species, including Abyssinian ground hornbills, African fish eagles, and crowned cranes. The rivers lined by dense forest also shelter forest-specialist species including African broadbills, trogons, and turacos that are rarely encountered in Ethiopia’s drier parks. Early morning walks along river margins and the shores of the crater lakes are the most productive times. Bring a quality pair of binoculars and a field guide to Ethiopian birds, as signage and formal interpretation are minimal.

Hot Springs, Waterfalls, and Crater Lakes

The national park contains rivers, streams, springs, caves, and four crater lakes, providing the perfect habitat for wildlife, endemic birds, and mammals. The Zigna River, several lakes, waterfalls including a hot spring form hydrological features in the park; the Zigna River is an important tributary of the Omo River, and the presence of natural caves is an added attraction. The hot spring at Filwuha (a name meaning “hot water” in Amharic) sits within walking distance of one of the main campsites and makes for a worthwhile late-afternoon stop after a morning game walk. The park holds four small crater lakes: Keriballa, Koka, and Shasho among them, each surrounded by forest and accessible on day hikes from the park headquarters. Several cascades cut dramatic gullies through the park, with viewpoints above the gorges offering a cool break after hiking.

Gojeb River Boat Tours and Aquatic Wildlife

Boat tours along the Gojeb River allow visitors to experience the park’s aquatic ecosystems up close, with chances to spot hippos and crocodiles. The Gojeb flows through the western section of the park and can be accessed from the park’s boundary. River trips are best arranged in advance through a tour operator or lodge, as there is no formal boat service at the water’s edge. The Gojeb and its tributaries also attract large concentrations of waterbirds, including herons, kingfishers, and African fish eagles hunting along the surface. Reptiles and amphibians also thrive in the park’s wetlands and forests. Crocodiles are present in the larger river sections, so swimming in the main river channels is not advisable. For calm water exploration closer to the crater lakes, the risk is lower, but always check with your ranger first.

Vegetation and Habitats Inside the Park

Most of the park, about 62%, is wooded grassland dominated by elephant grass, with montane woodland comprising 29%, along with woodland and riparian forest; palm trees are significantly diverse, dominant woody vegetation includes Ficus, Combretum, Ehretia, and Albizia species, and the natural forest harbors non-timber forest products of economic value such as enset, coffee, coriander, and piper species, with 106 woody plant species identified, six of which are endemic to Ethiopia. Four major vegetation zones have been described for the area: grasslands, woodlands, mountain forests, and riverine forests. The transition between these zones is relatively abrupt in places, and moving from open elephant grass country into riverine forest gives a markedly different feel and different wildlife encounters. The dense bamboo sections near the upper elevations are the most challenging terrain for tracking but also where elephant concentrations are highest.

Where to Stay at Chebera Churchura National Park

Accommodation at Chebera Churchura has expanded since the park’s early years and now covers a range from basic tented camping to a government-built luxury lodge. The choice of accommodation significantly affects the total trip cost and comfort level.

Chebera Safari Lodge sits inside the park boundary and remains the primary base for most visitors. It is the only private lodge inside the park, with 11 spacious twin and double-bedded safari tents with bathrooms as well as private camping sites with toilets and showers; all-inclusive rates as well as bed-and-breakfast options are available, with lunch and dinner also on offer. Rooms are clean with mosquito nets and running water; electricity via generator is only available between 7pm and 10pm, and hot water is not available. The lodge is perched on a hill overlooking the vast forests of the park and is owned and operated by a local family working closely with the local community.

Chebera Elephant Paw Lodge is a newer government-linked property inaugurated in December 2023. Built on 10 hectares at the entrance of the park, it is designed to provide high-level service, with presidential villas with private swimming pools, VIP villas, standard rooms, meeting rooms, restaurants, lounges, wellness centres, offices for wildlife researchers, and a towering observation deck. Rates at Chebera Elephant Paw Lodge start from around $135 per night.

Tented Camping at campsites including Filwuha and the Lake Bulo site is the most immersive and affordable option. Most tour operators supply tents, sleeping equipment, and a cook. Camping fees run approximately $5 to $10 per person per night.

How to Get to Chebera Churchura National Park

The park is located 133 km south from Jimma and 483 km southwest from Addis Ababa. There are two practical approaches for getting there in 2026.

Via Jimma (recommended): Drive from Addis Ababa to Chebera Churchura National Park via Jimma, covering 346 km of asphalted road plus 124 km of dirt road, totalling 470 km from Addis Ababa. Ethiopian Airlines operates regular flights between Addis Ababa and Jimma, cutting the overland travel time substantially. From Jimma, the drive south to the park takes approximately four to five hours depending on road conditions.

Via Sodo: One can also reach the park via Shashemene and Sodo, then northwest to the park. This southern